Conveyer switch



Sept. 22}, 1931. c. J. KESTI 1,824,276

CONVEYER SWI TCH Filed March 17,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 1""11 3 I 6 HI IN VENT OR Patented Sept. 22, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES T. KES'II, OF HOOD RIVER, OREGON CONVEYER SWITCH Application filed March 17, 1930. Serial No. 436,607.

My invention consists primarily of a hinged main line track section and a hinged branch line track section, both of which are adapted to being raised and lowered, or lowered and raised simultaneously with a common lever actuator. The lever simultaneously shifts each of the hinged sections vertically and laterally shifts one end of the main line track to bring the same in line with the track sections. Means are provided to reinforce the track sections when manipulated to support the same. j

My invention is primarily intended for use on conveyer systems wherein the track is composed of a plurality of spaced rollers over which the articles to be conveyed pass by gravity.

Heretofore it has been the general custom in conveyer trackage of this type to lift out one of the track'sections and to replace the same with the section desired. That is to say if it were desired to transfer from the mainline to a branch line, a main line section of the track is lifted out and the branch line section is placed therein. In packing plants and other places where this system of conveying is used, it very often is necessary to shift from one line'to the other frequently and the making of such changes requires a substantial amount of time and labor.

Through the use of my new and improved system the track desired to'be used may be made available by the simple shifting of a lever. At the point of support of the switch a frame is provided upon which the manipulative mechanism is disposed and a hand manipulation of theswitch lever is all that is required to select and make available the track section required.

The primary object of my invention is to savetime in the shifting of the track from main line to branch line or vice versa.

A still further object of my invention consists in the making of the main line track section and a branch line track section and to mount the same upon a sub-frame. I provide manipulative elements associated therewith for shifting from one to the other and to place the trackage substantially in line and to reinforcethesame from beneath.

A still further object of my invention resides in asimplified construction comprised of but few parts and one that may be used over relatively long periods with freedom from operating annoyances.

I With these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is herenafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1-is a side view of the assembled trackage system. 1

- Fig. 2 is a top, plan view of the assembled track system and illustrating the branch line as being in use. Fig. 3 is a sectional, side view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indi. cated. Y

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of the assembled device. Fig. 5 is a sectional, end view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 55 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, top plan view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 66 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 7'7' of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughoutthe several views. I i

My device is primarily intended for use and placement within a main line track composed of two ends 1 and 2 and having a branch line track and a main line track section interposed between the main line track ends. Supporting plates 3 and 4 are secured to a cross tieplate 5 disposed in the main line trackand a section of main line track 6 is frame is comprised of beams 7 and 8 and beams 9 and 10 fabricated together to form a support for the branch line switch track and the main line track section. The same is supported by any suitable leg supporting structure 11. Pins 12 and 13 upwardly extend from a cross tie 14 of the main track section that are in registerable alignment with and made to pass through holes disposed through the supporting plates 3 and 4. A locator pin 15 downwardly extends from the cross tie 14 and passes through the beam 7 to precisely locate the main line track section in placement and position. Locator plates 16 and 17 are secured to the cross tie 18 of the branch line and beams 19 and 20 are disposed within the cross tie 21 of the branch line track section 22 and a locator pin 23 downwardly extends from the cross tie 21 that engages within'the supporting frame to precisely lock the end of the switch relative to the branch line track. The track end 24 of the main line track is shiftable to place the same substantially in alignment with the main line or the branch line track section placed'at the switching point. In Fig. 2 I have shown a main line track section 24 as being in registerable alignment with the branch line switch 22.

The branch line switch 22 is normally lowered at the end of registerable alignment with the main line track 24. The side rail 25 of the branch line switch has a U 26 formed therein through which the main line track rail 27 passes. The U should be sufliciently deep to permit the normal raising and lowering of the main line track section and the switch branch line track section; A bell'crank 28 is disposed upon the sub-frame and is rock ably disposed about a supporting pin 29. A

. manually manipulative lever arm 30 runs transversely of the movable ends of the branch line switch and the main line track section. A crank 31 is disposed upon the oppositely disposed end of the shaft 32 to which the lever arm 30 and the crank 31 is secured. A link 33 connects the crank 31 with the bell crank 28. "The link is pivotally secured to the bell crank 28 by a pin 34. The purpose of the bell crank 28 is to support the U section 26 disposed within the rail 25 when the branch line switch is raised into operating position. A second link 35 connects the crank 31 with a bell crank 36. Thebell crank 36 is rockably disposed about a pin 37 and a second link 38 connects the bell crank 36 with the rail 39 of the main line track section 24 and as the manually manipulative lever 30 is actuated, to raise and lower the mam line track section,

and the switch branch line section simultaneously therewith the main line track section -24 will be placed in registerable alignment with each other. The raising and lowering of the main line track section and the switch of the branch line is accomplished by the rotation of the shaft 32. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 32 is a raising shoe 41. Downwardly extending from the main line rail section are legs 42 and when the raising shoe is in the position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the shoe 41 is disposed under the leg 42 which maintains the branch line switch in raised position. When the raising shoe is partially rotated so the same is made to engage under the legs 43 the shoe will be disengaged from the leg 42 and the branch line switch will automatically be lowered and in the rotation of the same so that it engages under the supporting leg 43 simultaneously with the lowering'of the branch line track the main line track section will be raised to track alignment with that of the main line. A slot 44 is disposed through the support 45 through which the shaft 32 passes and in the rotation of the raising and lowering show the shaft 32 will automatically shift longitudinally of the slots 44 to compensate for the width of the supporting legs under which the raising and lowering shoe 41 is made to engage.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, main line track sections, a side track section, a portable switch section removably disposed between the main line track sections and the side track section, said switch section comprising a supporting frame, pairs of tracks movably disposed upon the frame and adapted for vertical reciprocation, a shaft disposed laterally within the frame, a crank disposed upon one end of the shaft, an actuating lever disposed upon the oppositely disposed end of the shaft, a plurality of shoes disposed upon the shaft, means-for placing the shoes into contact with one of tracks and simultaneously breaking the contact with the other pair of tracks, and means for supporting each of the pairs of tracks when in raised position. I r

' 2. In a device of the class described, in combination, main line track sections, .a side track section, a portable switch section removably disposed between the main 7- line track sections and theside track section, pairs of tracks movably disposed upon the switch section and adapted for vertical movement, means for reciprocably moving the pairs of tracks vertically, means for moving one of the main line tra-ck'sections laterally, .and

lever mechanisms for performing these respective movements simultaneously and synchronically.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, main line track sections, a side track section, a portable switch section removably disposed in alignment with the main line and side track sections, said switch section comprising a supporting frame, pairs of rails movably disposed upon the supporting frame, means for locking the switch section to one of the main line track sections and the side track sections, means for simultaneously moving the pairs of rails vertically but in opposite directions, means for moving the other main line track section laterally, the vertical movements of the pairs of tracks and the lateral movements of the main line track section being synchronized.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with main line track sections and a side track section, .a switch section removably disposed between the main line and side track sections, means for interlocking one end of the switch section with one main line track section and with the side track section, the other main line track section being adapted for lateral movement, pairs of rails movably disposed upon the switch section, means for simultaneously moving the pairs of rails vertically but in opposite directions, means for moving the free main line track section laterally and common actuating means secured to the aforementioned means for synchronizing the movements of the pairs of tracks and the free main line track section.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with main line track sections and a side track section, a switch section disposed between the main line and side track sections, means for maintaining one end of the switch section in fixed position to the main line and side track sections, the other main line track section being adapted for lateral movement, pairs of rails vdisposed upon the switch section and adapted for vertical movement, means for lowering one pair of rails and simultaneously raising the other pair of rails disposed upon the switch section, means for moving the free end of the main line track section laterally, and a common actuator secured to each of said means to perform the vertical and lateral movements simultaneously and synchronically.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with main line track sections and a side track section, a switch section removably disposed and in adjustable alignment with each of the track sections, pairs of tracks vertically and reciprocally disposed upon the switch section, means for support- 7 mg each pair of tracks when in upraised position, means for shifting one of the main line sections laterally and into alignment with the pairs of tracks that are in upraised position, and means for reciprocating the pairs of tracks, each of said means being actuated by a common lever.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with main line and side track sections, a switch section, means for maintaining the switch section in fixed position relative to one of the main line sections and the side track section, pairs of rails movably disposed upon the switch section, and means for imparting a reciprocal vertical movement to said pairs of tracks and simul taneously imparting lateral movement to the other main line section.

CHARLES J. KE STI. 

